CAPE TOWN – The death toll in the accident involving a train and a truck pulling a trailer at a railway crossing near Somerset West in the Western Cape has risen to 27.
“There were 27 dead at the last count,” Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha told Sapa shortly before 10:30 yesterday. There were also six injured, three of whom he described as “critical” and three “serious”, he said.All those killed and injured are believed to have been travelling in the truck and trailer.According to Metrorail, the accident happened at 07:16, “when a truck and trailer carrying some 30 farm workers collided with Cape Town-bound train 3208 en route from Strand”.No rail commuters were injured in the accident, the rail company said in a statement.”The incident happened at the level crossing to Ridgemore Farm between Faure and Firgrove stations.According to eyewitnesses, the truck stalled at the crossing,” it said.Metrorail said the level crossing “conforms to legal requirements in terms of statutory warning signage and is protected by stop boards, road warning signs and train whistle boards”.Further, the company said it implored vehicle drivers “to exercise extreme care and to obey traffic rules when approaching railway crossings”.According to public affairs officer Marti Carstens at Tygerberg Hospital, four of the injured were admitted to the hospital while others are at Hottentots Holland Hospital.Metrorail said the line would remain “inoperable” for several hours while emergency services finished their work at the scene.It said alternative arrangements had been made to take commuters to their destinations.The company expressed its condolences to the family and friends of the dead and injured.SapaThere were also six injured, three of whom he described as “critical” and three “serious”, he said.All those killed and injured are believed to have been travelling in the truck and trailer.According to Metrorail, the accident happened at 07:16, “when a truck and trailer carrying some 30 farm workers collided with Cape Town-bound train 3208 en route from Strand”.No rail commuters were injured in the accident, the rail company said in a statement.”The incident happened at the level crossing to Ridgemore Farm between Faure and Firgrove stations.According to eyewitnesses, the truck stalled at the crossing,” it said.Metrorail said the level crossing “conforms to legal requirements in terms of statutory warning signage and is protected by stop boards, road warning signs and train whistle boards”.Further, the company said it implored vehicle drivers “to exercise extreme care and to obey traffic rules when approaching railway crossings”.According to public affairs officer Marti Carstens at Tygerberg Hospital, four of the injured were admitted to the hospital while others are at Hottentots Holland Hospital.Metrorail said the line would remain “inoperable” for several hours while emergency services finished their work at the scene.It said alternative arrangements had been made to take commuters to their destinations.The company expressed its condolences to the family and friends of the dead and injured.Sapa
